Mary Cameli
Mary Cameli is the Fire Chief in the Mesa (AZ) Fire and Medical Department. Mary came to Arizona with the goal of becoming a schoolteacher, but in 1983, she had a change of heart and became one of the first two women hired as firefighters in the City of Mesa. The city has grown quickly and
significantly during her career and is now home to more than 500,000 residents. Chief Cameli has risen through the ranks of the organization serving as a Firefighter/Paramedic, Captain/Paramedic, Battalion Chief, Deputy Chief, and spent eleven years as Mesa's Assistant Fire Chief. She has been the Fire Chief since 2016 and recently announced that she will retire at the end of 2026. Mary has made such a mark in her Department in Mesa, as well as at the city, state, and national levels. In addition to serving as Fire Chief in Mesa, Mary currently chairs the Executive Board of the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA), and has served as President of the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE), President of the Arizona Fire Chiefs Association (AFCA), Chair of the Child Crisis Arizona Board, President of Mesa Sunrise Rotary, President of the Community Bridges Board, and is active with a number of other service and leadership endeavors, both professional and personal. She has been recognized with the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (Metro Chiefs) Fire Chief of the Year Award and was selected as the Mesa Woman of the Year in 2020. She has also received many other prestigious awards and recognitions. Chief Cameli earned her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary and Physical Education and a Master's Degree in Organizational Management.
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